Aside from foods/protein supplements - is there anything you needed for your wounds or anything else you can think of? I am working on my list! Thanks

Mama,

That's a GREAT question! I had a drain which was removed just before I went home, and the site needed to be bandaged as it continued to drain for about a week post-op. This was not mentioned to me pre-op, so I was unprepared. I only had large bandaids at home, and they were not up to the task - I ended up having to launder pajamas and bedding several times before I was able to get to the drugstore. The best product I found was 3M Nexcare 3" x 4" adhesive pads - no leaking, and easy to apply.

I can't say as there was anything "wound-wise" that I needed. My incisions were very small, glued shut and covered with those steri-strips that fell off after a few days. The only thing that was a help to me once the strips fell off was gently rubbing baby oil on the incision sites to get that glue residue off- it was getting covered with fuzz from my clothes!

Thanks!!! I added those adhesive pads to my list and checked the status of my baby oil (half a bottle still )

My wounds were small but did leak a bit and soiled my sheets so you may want to have something to put down on your sheets. But the big gauze squares are really good to have. Have lot's of them!! Just in case.

Make sure to have your Vitamins all bought and lined up. Have some food items ready, that are stage appropriate for you. Also, start to prep for the next stage as well. So, have your liquid stuff ready for the first phase. Some broth is good to have because it has some flavor to it. sugar free Jello and sugar free popsicles are really good to have around as well.

Have some pureed stuff ready for your next phase: some yogurt, cottage cheese, sugar free apple sauce, etc.

And of course a lot of Protein drinks. Your tastes might change after the surgery so have some different flavors around.

Thanks!!!

would highly recommend against removing the skin glue with baby oil. The port site incisions are not sutured - the skin glue is used to approximate the skin edges. Removing the glue with a non-sterile substance, much less an oil, within a few days of surgery does not seem wise. If the wound is not adequately healed, you risk contaminating it, as well as producing an unsightly scar. I was instructed to allow the glue to fall off by itself - took about two weeks.

would highly recommend against removing the skin glue with baby oil. The port site incisions are not sutured - the skin glue is used to approximate the skin edges. Removing the glue with a non-sterile substance, much less an oil, within a few days of surgery does not seem wise. If the wound is not adequately healed, you risk contaminating it, as well as producing an unsightly scar. I was instructed to allow the glue to fall off by itself - took about two weeks.

Interesting.... because it was my actual surgeon who recommended the baby oil to get the leftover glue off. For what it's worth, I certainly didn't do it arbitrarily- I asked at a post op appointment after the incisions were checked, since fuzz-covered incisions certainly didn't seem very wise or sterile to have either. Ah well, surgeons are different.

Can you drink milk in post op? You know to mix protein powder with..

Can you drink milk in post op? You know to mix protein powder with..

Yes after 3 or 4 days milk is ok

My surgery is next Thursday... I bought a heating pad because many recommended it for post-op pain. Also, ordering a new scale!

My surgery is next Thursday... I bought a heating pad because many recommended it for post-op pain. Also, ordering a new scale!

My new heating pad arrived yesterday!!!! Not sure who's more excited - me or my daughter who has inherited my old (perfectly working but small) one

Interesting.... because it was my actual surgeon who recommended the baby oil to get the leftover glue off. For what it's worth, I certainly didn't do it arbitrarily- I asked at a post op appointment after the incisions were checked, since fuzz-covered incisions certainly didn't seem very wise or sterile to have either. Ah well, surgeons are different.

SuzeMuze -

So glad that you clarified that you removed the glue only after an incision check, and with your surgeon's approval. For those who've done the same, it's a nice tip. I was concerned that someone might see the original suggestion and start oiling up as soon as they got home from the hospital... (Sorry, can't turn off my nursing background)

I got a maternity binder to wear under my clothes and just hold me in, heating pad good idea, I got a set of bamboo child flat ware as a treat.

Someone somewhere on one of these preparation threads recommended packing a pillow to clutch to your belly in the car for the ride home from the hospital. I did not take this advice and I deeply regretted it. I have a brand new car with a smooth ride, but I still felt like I could feel every single pebble we drove over. By the time the 30-minute ride home from the hospital was done, I was gasping and whimpering and trying not to cry like a big baby. So, yeah... pack a pillow. Maybe you won't be as big a baby as me, but if you are then you'll be grateful for it.